I never really liked the TV program The View. It was always too shrill, and sometimes vulgar.

On the other hand, it used to have at least one redeeming feature: Star Jones, who was one of the very few plussize personalities on TV.

Star was never really attractive, but at least while she was full-figured, she was kind of photogenic.

http://www.newsbusters.org/media/2006-06-28-Jones2.JPG

Then, like all plussize actresses, she started losing weight, and turned into a shrivelled, wasted version of her former self. Her face aged about twenty years. Any time I saw her, I thought, "She looks like she has a serious illness".

Apparently a lot of other people thought so too. Todays news reports about Star Jones and her departure from The View reveal that her increasingly emaciated appearance was precisely what made her unpopular with the public:

"Walters said ABC network chiefs had decided last fall not to renew Reynolds' contract because its research showed that Reynolds' dramatic weight loss...had turned viewers off.

"'We tried to talk them out of it,' Walters said, 'and we tried to give Star time to redeem herself in the eyes of the audience, and the research just kept getting worse.'"

Of COUSE "the research just kept getting worse" - because her emaciation kept getting worse! Im sure that a lot of former fans felt betrayed - or, at the very least, that they couldnt relate to her any more. Sad to say, but her gaunt appearance became a turn-off for many viewers.

Its a cautionary tale for other actresses who starve themselves, trying to improve their careers. The opposite could happen, and the suffering will be all for nothing.

<br>It's hard to shake the feeling that this very public row is nothing but a carefully-orchestrated publicity stunt, designed to increase the bankability of both <i>The View,</i> and of Star Jones, through the time-honoured method of artificially generating a "controversy."

But leaving that aside, the revelation that Ms. Jones's corpse-like appearance drove away viewers and diminished her popularity is not at all surprising. Although Hollywood refuses the admit this, the public is <i>yearning</i> to see plus-size actresses in prominent roles, so much so that even less-than-glamorous full-figured performers become popular, simply because they are so rare.

Ms. Jones's self-imposed starvation is doubly regrettable because in her early days on <i>The View,</i> she was a helpful advocate of size celebration. In her finest moment, she famously berated Lane Bryant for its insulting use of faux-plus models. (The transcript of that discussion appears <a href="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/news.htm#Sizes" target="_blank">here</a>.) That commentary appeared in 2001, and helped compel Lane Bryant to (temporarily) amend its casting policies, reaching a high point of aesthetic success two years ago, with campaigns featuring genuinely full-figured models such as Maiysha Simpson and Crystal Renn (who was a size 14 at the time).

(How sad that Lane Bryant has recently returned to its faux-plus ways, and moreover, that it appears to be using fewer and fewer models' images in general.)

At any rate, Star Jones's betrayal of size celebration (which is so symptomatic of Hollywood culture) should make us even more appreciative of those rare plus-size actresses who retain their feminine curves, and genuinely embody the timeless beauty that the public is dying to see--in films, magazines, advertising, and every other segment of the media world.

"research showed that Reynolds' dramatic weight loss...had turned viewers off."
This doesn't surprise me at all. I've noticed the same thing about plus-size models. Those who maintain their feminine curves and never diminish their figures are the ones who are the most popular, and become public favourites. And models who become more curvaceous over time are the most popular of all. But the reactions to models who shrink in size tends to be first disappointment, then indifference, and ultimately, they're forgotten.

As for Star Jones, she should consider herself fortunate to be let go before the new host joins the show. Who could stand to sit across the table from someone like Rosie O'Donnell every day? No salary is worth that.

Kaitlynn

8th July 2006, 10:26

In her finest moment, she famously berated Lane Bryant for its insulting use of faux-plus models.
To their credit, Lane Bryant, or The View, or both, finally learned their lesson. The View had a segment about plus-size lingerie yesterday, and none of the plus-size models was less than a 14.

It was an okay segment, but not exactly breathtaking. I question some of the lingerie that was chosen, because Lane Bryant actually has much prettier items than what was chosen for the show. I remember last year, they had a whole range of unmentionables in natural pastel colours- banana yellows, citrus orange, autumn red, etc. Really fresh and attractive. I don't know if they still make those or not, but they were lovely. Some of the items on the show yesterday...I don't know.

Also, the models didn't look as...lively (?) as they might have been. No really vain expressions, and not a lot of playfulness either. Ashley Graham maybe came off a little better than the others, and looked quite curvy. But in the way they presented themselves, the models seemed a little too understated, almost uncomfortable at times. I wish they'd had more of a steamier, wicked, "I'm so gorgeous" attitude. You need that to show off these fashions!

HSG

14th July 2006, 03:16

I question some of the lingerie that was chosen, because Lane Bryant actually has much prettier items than what was chosen for the show. I remember last year, they had a whole range of unmentionables in natural pastel colours- banana yellows, citrus orange, autumn red, etc. Really fresh and attractive.
Here are a couple of screen captures of Ashley on the program. It's nice to see that the departure of Star Jones hasn't ended <i>The View</i>'s irregular commitment to showcasing plus-size fashions.<p><center><img src="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/forum/lblingerie03.jpg"></center><p>Miss Graham made a fairly good showing, even exhibiting a daringly curvaceous midriff.<p><center><img src="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/forum/lblingerie04.jpg"></center><p>But, as Kaitynn points out, the apparel was a bit of a disappointment, since whatever else can be said about Lane Bryant, it usually offers attractive sleepwear.

Regrettably, the apparel that lingerie-specialty companies usually make for plus sizes has a crass, boudoir cheapness about it. It is generally produced in garish colours, and is festooned with ridiculous feathering and such. By contrast, in recent seasons, Lane Bryant's sleepwear has been more chic and demure, with an appealing touch of innocence.

Here are a few LB items from just last year. (They may still be on offer, for all we know.) This is the lingerie equivalent of the "new femininity," with elegant designs and gentle allure. The effect is suggestive rather than explicit--which makes it far more attractive.<p><center><img src="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/forum/lblingerie02.jpg"></center><p>And a company photo of one of the new Lane Bryant "Cacique" stores suggests that these organic colours are quite popular.<p><center><a href="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/forum/lblingerie01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/forum/lblingerie01a.jpg" border="0" alt="Click to enlarge"></a></center><p>One hastens to add, however, that if Lane Bryant wishes to achieve success with its Cacique division, it really need to produce more in-store advertising showcasing its fashions on plus-size models. Lingerie is only seen to proper advantage when it is displayed on the womanly figures for which it was intended.<p>- <a href="http://www.judgmentofparis.com/crystal2.htm" target="_blank">To wit: Crystal Renn's unforgettable 2004 Lane Bryant campaign</a>